LAKE ELSINORE: Officials investigating murder of man, 53, who died from head injuries

LAKE ELSINORE: Authorities are investigating the murder of a laborer who died from head injuries he reportedly received while working at a Lake Elsinore residence yesterday afternoon. The deadly incident happened at a private residence on the 16000 block of Holborow Avenue, north of Lakeshore and Riverside Drives, in Lake Elsinore.

Authorities are now working to identify another laborer who was hired to work with the victim at the home when the deadly incident happened. The man reportedly fled the scene prior to rescuers arriving at the scene.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified 53-year-old, Juan De Leon Lopez, of Lake Elsinore, as the man killed in the incident. According to a Coroner’s release, the victim died about thirty minutes after the incident was reported and he was pronounced deceased at the home at 2:32 p.m.

Deputies assigned to the Lake Elsinore Police Department responded to the residence shortly after 2 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained as the sheriff’s investigation was getting underway.

“CAL-FIRE paramedics were on-scene to provide medical aid to a Hispanic male adult with visible head trauma,” said Clear.

Despite life-saving efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries and medical personnel declared him deceased at the scene.

Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Lake Elsinore Station and Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the home and assumed the investigation.

“According to the homeowner, Lopez was one of two men hired for property maintenance,” Clear explained. The second man, who remains unidentified at this time, fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel, according to Clear.

The sheriff’s investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who possibly knows the identity of the alleged suspect is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Trudeau at (951) 955-2777, or Lake Elsinore Station Investigator Cardinale at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L181700063 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.